Nicole Tuscano of Howell will honor the memory of her mother, Cleo Tuscano, with two fundraising events that will support research into the disease that claimed Cleo’s life six years ago.
Tuscano, 31, has teamed up with the Lustgarten Foundation for the fifth straight year to host a memorial pancreatic cancer walk on June 7 at Monmouth University, West Long Branch. All money raised from the event will be donated to the foundation.
The Lustgarten Foundation is the largest private, nonprofit supporter of pancreatic cancer research in the United States
Anyone who wants to participate in the walk can log on to www.lustgarten.org for preregistration. Participation requires a minimum $50 donation and comes with a Tshirt and a poster for teams, made by Tuscano.
In 2013, about 1,000 people participated in the walk and $122,000 was raised, according to Tuscano.
Tuscano said she is also sponsoring an event at Alex and Ani Red Bank, 12 Broad St., Red Bank, on April 9 from 7-9 p.m. Any item that is purchased in the store during those hours will have 15 percent of the purchase price donated to the Lustgarten Foundation.
Last year’s event at the store netted $1,200 for Tuscano’s effort.
Cleo Tuscano was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006 and died in 2008.